I didn't anticipate that finding my way around this place would require a team of cartographers and a month of preparation, so I was late. 'Why even go to the class at this point?' late. But I wasn't one to give up.
The school mostly consisted of interconnected corridors with classrooms on one side, and floor-to-ceiling windows on the other. I suspected that some heavy-duty blinds were hidden in the walls to keep the sunlight out during the day, but I couldn't see any. The architects knew what they were doing. I've heard they have to take a class specifically for sun proofing.
Class 6B turned out to be on the sixth floor, hidden behind a large tinted glass door, so I couldn't see in. It looked stylish and completely useless from a defense standpoint.
I shrugged and opened it.
"… and so they realized that they have to push through the main gate before sunrise – "
The professor looked at me, startled. He looked like a warrior, just like Gaediel, but with husky-blue eyes, and wavy, brown, shoulders-long hair. He smelled like mint with a hint of werewolf.
"Who are you, gal?" He sounded Scottish.
"Avalynn Thorn, the new student. Sorry for being late, I got lost."
"No worries. We're just about done with the class for today. Come, introduce yourself."
I walked in, stopping just beside him. We shook hands.
"Name's Marcus MacCallum. Nice to meet you."
"Sure it is. This place is massive. I felt like I was on a pilgrimage with no end in sight."
"Your journey's not over yet, I'm afraid." He smiled and pointed towards the class. "They look quite eager to get to know you."
I turned to face my new classmates. They were sitting in two columns of double-desks in four rows, with an extra elevated row in the back. About half of them were vampires, I felt their colder auras trying to overtake the room, but waning from the warmer auras of humans and werewolves and such. And they all looked excited. Oh, goodness.
"Hi everyone, as I already mentioned my name is Avalynn Thorn, but call me Ava. I came here from a mysterious place called Greenland. I like my steak rare and my metal heavy. Oh, and I'm a novice pyromancer." I felt like that was fairly decent introduction, but they just continued to stare at me.
"That was… brisk." The prof turned to the class. "Any questions?"
At least a dozen hands shot in the air and I already felt tired. Is it too late to just go back to the dorms?
The prof called out the first lucky winner. "Anthony?"
"Why did you move here?"
"Weather's nicer, bears are scarcer and there are no giants ransacking the school."
"Lizzie?"
"What do you like to do in your free time?"
"Sleep, work out or play with my dog."
My dog who is a mystical tiger, but they don't have to know that.
"Will?"
"What's your blood type?"
"I… have no clue." I did know it, but it's not supposed to be on the records.
Out of all of the answers this was the most upsetting for them. This society is pretty much built on trading blood for goods. It's like not knowing what a credit card is.
"No worries, gal. Gaediel told me that you're pure."
Pure, as in not yet bitten by a vampire. I nodded.
"You should've started with that Marcus."
A man stood up at the furthest desk. He looked like a younger version of Gaediel, wearing black jeans and shirt. He must be one of the two Blackblood sons whom I was specifically told to avoid at all cost. Just my flipping luck.
He strode up to us, and before I could say anything he grabbed my hand and mimed a kiss on it, his lips never touching my skin. It was a show for the class, and I felt like a prop.
"Who's Mr. Dracula here?" I turned to the prof, and forced my hand out of the man's grip, resisting the urge to wipe it on my leg.
"My name is Cain Blackblood. But my friends call me Sin." He smiled at me, but his eyes looked cold and calculating. It seemed like this son inherited more of his mom's side than expected. This can be a problem. I have to make him disinterested, or I might as well be under surveillance.
"So…Cain, what's with the raven fashion and the power play?"
"This 'raven fashion' is what others call a style, as for the other one, it's only a formality."
He leaned close to my face, our noses nearly touching. I felt threatened and disgusted. No vampire should ever be able to get this close to a Hunter without some serious punishment.
"If I wanted to show you what I'm truly capable of, you'd be swooning in my arms, begging for a kiss."
I had a strong urge to punch this guy in the face. But I had to behave. I can't hit him.
But I can scare him.
I felt my lips twist into a creepy smile, just before I reignited my flame cloak. I saw the fire reflect in his deep green eyes. He jumped back with superhuman speed, but lost his balance and fell backwards.
"And if I show you what I'm capable of you'll be on your butt, rediscovering gravity."
He looked shocked and I hoped this was enough to keep him away. I don't need any Blackbloods in my life.
"Stop." Another man rushed in from the back. He was tall and slender with blond hair.
"I'm sorry, Sin can be a dumbass." He looked honestly sorry.
"Yeah, noted."
"Those flames were pretty impressive though, I wonder why they didn't trigger the fire alarm." He tried to improve the mood with small talk, and I guess it worked. I like to talk about my flames.
"Because that's a smoke alarm, and my flames don't smoke."
"That makes sense, "he nodded and then turned to Cain. "Get up and apologize. You shouldn't treat student like tools in your petty games."
Cain stood up, his face was red from the heat. He shot a murderous glare towards the blonde man, then rushed to the back of the classroom, disappearing behind the red curtains there, probably into a secret room. Interesting.
The grandfather clock behind us rang, signaling the end of the class, but nobody moved from their seats. I guess they've never seen pyromancy before. But Blondie was on top of the situation.
"Put some spring in your limbs guys. Or do you want to be late for Cassandra's class?"
Everyone seemed to start moving at once. This guy knows how to motivate his classmates, and I'm not looking forward meeting this Cassandra.
He then looked at me, a bit amused. "I'll be your guide if that's okay." I nodded. "Great. Let me just get my stuff."
He went against the flow of people to get his bag, which reminded me that I don't have my school supplies or books yet. They should be in my room. I'll bring them tomorrow.
"I have to report this to Gaediel, but don't worry, you're not at fault here." Marcus pat me on the back. It was a very guy thing to do. "The flames looked very cool."
"Actually it's the opposite." I smiled at the big guy and he smiled back. I feel I'll get along with him nicely.
Blondie returned, shook hands with Marcus and headed out the door. I followed him. We got into the elevator.
"By the way, what's your name?"
"Oh, yeah, I never introduced myself in the heat of the situation."
I rolled my eyes, but smiled at the pun. Until the next second.
"My name is Damian Blackblood."